Valve control mechanism for liquid treating apparatus



Sept' 7 1943- c. M. uRWnN 223299052 VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LIQUIDTREATING APPARATUS Sept 7, 1943a c. M. IRWIN 2,329,052

VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LIQUID TREAT-ING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 9,1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @www /ees terjlllrwinf,

Patented Sept. 7, 1943 UNITED STATES ,PATENT fOIFFlfCE VALVE fCo'S'lRoLMECHNISMFQR 1- LIQUID TREATING- APPAR'iUS zitaten)teammate, Twig.'Areicenen Jnuerf'y 9, 1an; seein No; sieges rovi'de niechansrn fortimingthe opera ion of trsottening Inaterial and automatically resettingcertain df the valvesof the apparatus at Vthe conclusin of suchoperation Whichmeclansni will lie/simple in construction,crnparativelyiexpensive to manuiacturefassen'ible and install; andV moreefcient in use than those Which'live been heretofore proposed. e Asis'wvellrknown to those skilled in the art', after a period of ruse thebaise exchange silicate' s',` such as zeolites, noW Widely yused inwater `soitening,become exhausted'. through the exchange of their basesfor those containedrin the vv terl being treated,v at whicl 1 time theyrnust either' be discarded and replaced. by fresh materiaLor must beregenerated, Since regeneration :nay be accomplished with relative easeby a simple' treatment of the spent zeolites with coninion salt r brine,and since this regenerating material is far less expensive than thezeolites',` practically all commercial Water softening apparatus'employing zeolites make provision forefiecting" f regeneration of thebase exchange silicates 'in Likewise, in Sonie l-ters for the Vremoval'of J valve action iwhicnis' .gentle ratherxthan abrupt iron fromkWater, the l'terin'g material is reactivated upon exhaustion by' asimilar treatment with salt, potassium permanganate, or other chemical.While the apparatus constitutngtlie present invention' is suitable forruse in connecti'nvvith all Water softening'fand' filtering' atp-'paf`ratus of this general'character, for purpossoi the .pre's'ern disclosurethev description Will be' confined toze'olite'Water softening apparatus,by i Way of example hut not'of limitation.

Base exchange Water softening equipment is' usually constructed in'oneof two forms:` (D the`v tank which centaine the grenulerzeelite fnreughwhich the Water is passedfis provided with' a' charging opening forthe'zeolite's which is"-rr f mally closed by arernovable cap,' andthrol'i which' the saltar other regenerating material may 'be directlyintroduced toy the kzeolites''vs/"lien regenerationofthe latter isnecessary; and f( 2 a tank separate from that containing' the zeoiKLlites is' provided, inl which separate tank a sbliifl uen' of een erother reactivating` ehen'iieai. isxv maintained, which solution is'erens'fe'rre'd`- te trie z edlite containing tank" a'slmaype" necessary,`-b`y gravity, siphoning', or by means of an ejector.

less eonplicate'd and expensive elerififeirlts, siich It ishenimportantetetjgy iixffeiitiegen f mechanism-for con:

thef-ethernerid, te evd renne this verve-acten fer regenerating ppesjesutilizeseteek ypes'e'f vet/eeen@ eine naines such' es' may-te' purchasederr-any rmniemim1 number ef .geen .other i eerteefeimpie ensitr'uction?that the enti-re apparatus may 'fbe 'or'. jerkygeas '.Wouldesbe casemerelxatrigger e. mechanism employede-lwheneby.vibratin;...chate tering:and'hammeringj of the supply' 'lines ;is

'avoided- Q.Jf.ne Y f l which ivtill, `appear as fthe-description?proceeds, the 'r1.vennpneensietsin the 1nevel fdet'eiis' -o'f el@ e eindarmeniens; pointed eiitfintne epceleelgr Sm eeiwtedae.,attent accordanceWith-'fthe present invention applied control mechanism housed in theupper portion of the brine tank. Y

Referring more particularly to the said drawings, the water softeningequipment illustrated in 1' Fig. l comprises a zeolite containing tanklil, having a charging opening at its top which-is normally The hardwater j i tightly closed by a cover II.

which is to be treated is introduced into the upper portion of the saidtank from the supply main I2 l1.:-

by means of an inlet pipe I3 which is controlled by a manually operablevalve I4. An outlet pipe `I5 leads from the bottom portion of thetank I3to the'house line IS'through an outlet valve I1. The portion of the pipeI5 which extends into the tank Iii is usually perforated as at I8 toprovide for the entry of the water thereto, and this portion of the saidpipe is normally embedded in a layer of gravel or coarse sand I9 abovewhich the zeolite or fother base exchange material is placed. A valvedconnection 2| may be provided between the pipes l 2 and'l, by means ofwhich, under certain conditions, water from the pipe I2 may be used toflow downwardly in the pipe I5 to the bottom of the tank toreverse-flush the apparatus for cleaning purposes.

Usually the pipe I5 is provided at the elbow 22 with a drain valve whichmust be manipulated during a regeneration operation, but in carryingoutthe presentinvention this Valve 25 is elevated to a point justbelowand in substantial vertical 4 alinement ,with the outlet Valve I1,as will be clear from the drawings, and is connected to the pipe I5 by aTcoupling 26 and to a drain pipe 21 by an elbow 28. 1 The valves I1 and25: mustboth be operated at the beginning and again at theclose of aregeneration-operation, I1 being closed 'and 25 opened at the start, andthel action reversed when regeneration is complete. A.

The valves `I1 and 25'are preferably, although not necessarily,;of; awell known reciprocating type widely used in plumbing work and readilyobtainable aft-relatively low cost, and since in theregenerationoperation their movements may advantageously take placesimultaneously, their respective stems 39 and'3l, which arecinsubstantialaxial alinernent, ,are connected togetherbys a to one arm ofa lever 42 which is pivotally mounted as at 43 on a bracket 44 which maybe conveniently clamped upon the pipe or nipple 45 leading from theoutlet valve I1, substantially as shown. A liquid-receiving receptacle46 of suitable capacity is suspended from the other arm of the lever 42,the arrangement being such that the weight of the receptacle and itscontents acts in opposition to the force Aexerted by the spring 3S. Theforce of the spring and the weight of the receptacle are so chosen,however, that when the receptacle is empty it will not overcome thespring and therefore the partsv will remain in the positions illustratedin Fig. 2, with the valve I1 open and the valve 25 closed.

A T connection 41 leads from the pipe or nipple 45, to one branch* ofwhich the house line I5 is connected, while from its other branch leadsa pipe 49,' controlled by a valve 5a, by means of which water may besupplied to the receptacle 46. For evacuating the receptacle'an ejectordevice is provided, comprising a tube 5I, the'upper end of which may beconveniently hooked over the pipe IS and the lower end of'whichentersthe drain pipe 21 through the elbow 28, see Fig. 2. YA ilexible hose lortubing 52'extends from the upper end of the tube 5i down into thereceptacle, and at its lower end is preferably provided with a removablenozzle 5 3, having a metering or control oriiice 54 for determining therate of discharge of liquid from the receptacle. By providing aplurality of such nozzles having openings of various sizes andsubstituting one for another, it l is possible to secure any desiredpredetermined rate of dis,- charge of the liquidcontents of thereceptacle 46. During the normalv operation of the softening oriiltering apparatus above described, the parts are in the positionsillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, with the valves I4 and I1 open, the valves2|, 25 and closed, and the receptacle 48 empty. When after continuedYuse the zeoliteor other liquid treating material 2!) becomes exhaustedandin need or regeneration, the valve I 4 is closed manuallylto cut offthe supply of water from main I2 to tank I0, the cover II opened,therequired quantity of saltor other regenerating materialis introducedinto the tank through the charging opening, and the cover II isreplaced.

The valve I4 is then reopened, andthe valve 50 suitable adjustableconnection, here showngas comprising the horizontal bars 32 and 33,secured to the stems 30 and 3l respectively,fand the verticalbolts A34and nuts 35, 4see particularly Fig. 3. A helical tension spring 36 maybe conveniently passed beneath the body of the valve 25 and have itsendshooked over the end projections 31 ofthe barA 33, as will be readilyunderstood from the drawings. Obviously, some other form of spring, or asuitable weightlmay be substituted for the helical spring 35, since itsfunction is tonormally bias the drain valve 25 to closed position andtheoutlet valve I1 to open position, but'the helical springs are cheap andreadily obtainable.L I v The bar member 32 is provided with end pro-.1jections 33 which are received in apertures 39 formed in the lower endsof` a pair of links 4I), the

is also opened to supplyg-the receptacle 46 with wateryfrom the pipes 49and I5. As the water ilowsinto the receptaclev 46 its weight graduallyovercomes the vforce'eXerted by the biasing spring 36 and-theloutletvalve I1 is moved to closed position, cutting oil theilow of treatedwater to the house line i5, and simultaneously therewith vthe drainvalve 25 is opened. Azp'IThe salt which was placed intheupper partof'tank I has been dissolved in the water, therein, forming ai brinesolution, `which passes down throughthe zeolite materiallZll,reactivating the 'same by restoring its sodium silicate content inthewell known manner. The regenerating liquid passes out through the pipeyI5 to valve 25 and drainpipe 2:1 and inpassing through the latter pipeproduces an ejector actionin ,the tube `5I which gradually withdraws theliquid-from the receptacle 4G. The capacity of this receptacle ispref- Yerably suchl that whenit is completely filled, at

upper ends of which are connected as by a pin 4I 7i' least 50 %-for moreof its contents must be dis- -chargedbefore the biasing spring 35 willbegin to restore the lvalves `I1 and 25 to their respective normalpositions, Iwhereby arnpletime is allowed to effectjcompleteregeneration of the material 2i). This time period may also be varied bysubf opening 54,. faswill be v-lreadily. understood.

l The-liquidistillremaining in the receptacle 46'. when the spring 36Acommences its valve restoring" movement, although constantlydiminishing.; will; retard the action of vthe spring' 'andfcausethe'valve I1 to be-openedandthe'valvef'251tobey stitut on of a noz'zle 53`having a'lar'gerorlsmaller closed gently, thus avoidingvibration,"ehattering;"

and/orv hammering in the supply: lines. f v4After the initial operationof placingthe s'altvin'fthe? tank' I0 and the manualmanipulationofthevalves. I.4'and5, no further attention on the part of.gthezoperator isl required, fzsincev the system ;is1

automatically restored .to operating condition when.j the 4 mechanism fof the' 'presenti inventionr through pipes .64

therefrom through pipe I5," valveZS andpipe '21,; which draws'v'regenerating solution. from tank Btlv tankr II).- 1 When sufficientsolution'. to effect re: generation vhas thus'been supplied, to tankIIL,` valve 1665 is. iclosedand. valvezI'd reopened, where# upon-.- the1 mechanismproceeds .to function .asf

above.described ,in connection with the singletanktype;

I. The mechanism of' this invention possesses the.`

. important 7advantage that it automaticallyy com-v has'restored'thevalves VI1"and 25ftoppen and` closed position respectively.

11n .4, there is. iuustrated theappiieanon of the Zpresent mechanism to.a plural tank type "of, Water softening or ltering equipment. 1 InAthis" oi?V apparatus a second tank: SIlis providedpL adjacent the `tankI9, for lcontaining a solution,V

of.' salt :or other: regeneratingv agent. 1 A layeriof gravel.or-'coarsejsand is deposited in the bottom of the tank 60 approximatelyto the levelfindir., cated bythe broken line'GI ,1 upon-whi'ch'aquantity-:of rock salt or. other suitable 'chemical fis] superposed toapproximately :the levelindicated. by the broken line I2andv watertodissolve suc-h chemical may be introduced through^a pipe 33. A brinewithdrawal pipe 641 extends down into theg'tank 60 substantiallyasshown,being con-1 nectedas atSE/to thepipe I3 and provided eX-.r teriorlyp thetank with a manually controlledvalve 66,- The pipe 63 for. introducingthe water.

pensates. for-variations inwater pressure inthe main I2,sincethesuctionin .tube I varies in ac-' corclanceN with such pressure. In other words,it

the water pressure be` high so thatthe water passes through the tankIrelatively rapidly, the

suction produced in tube 5I by fits ,flow through drain pipe 21fwil1 becorrespondingly high andthe vessel 46 will be emptied in a short spaceof time."v Onthe other hand, if the pressure-in.

j main I2 be low` the flowin tank Illandtdrain 2:1 is correspondinglylowered, and suction in tub'eI t-fis lower so that it will take longerto empty receptacle 46, with the resultthatthe regeneration, period will4be lengthened. Yliluctuatingpressures in'zmain I2. will of course alsobe autornati cally compensatedV f -f :rtjwni beobvious mannose Skilledin :the art into vthe tank may be connected tothe pipeld.

asiat 61, and is provided With a manually controlled valve 68 exteriorlyof the tank, and with` a iloat controlled valve 69 interiorly thereofthepurposeof; `which isl to automatically limit the introduction of waterinto rthe tank to prevent the-brine level from rising` above thatindicated by:V thebrokeh lne..l0- The valve control mechanism voftheinvention maybe essentially thesame for this type of apparatus as thatpreviously described1 but vsuch mechanism, together with-the valves I1and 2 5',y sfpreferably positioned inthe upper'portion of the l,tanksuIostantiallBT as shown; The maini tenance of the brinelevel-'nothigherthanthev line 1 0 bythe/float valve 69 will protect theparts of the mechanismfrom the brine and prevent the latter from buoyingorenteringthe receptacle 4 6 4to render the mechanism inoperativeDuringfnormal operation of this form of the apparatus, valves I4 and I'Iare open,"whilev val ve s 2`I,' 25,50, 6B and 68 are closed. -Whenregeneration is necessary, the salt or other-chemical is placed in tank6U and valve 68v opened to admit. waterfrornv rmain i2 through pipes 64and 63 to. dissolve it. The float valve llwill automatically cut oi",this water supply when fthe levellllis reached, 4lout the valve 68should .also be closed,

beforeprcceeding. The tank B0 may be of 13a--v p'acity to holdsufficient solution ,.for several regenerations, inwhich event thispreparation ,of the'regenera'ting solution will notzbe necessary at feach regeneration.

.thesolution prepared, valve .Itis closed, valve 66 opened, andthereceptacle tlIif-iilled by opening valve 50, which isthen againclosed.r

- in teenage' tank typelas' the receptacle tenus it;

overcomes the force of the spring 36,y closingy valve I1 and openingdrain valve 25.A The hydrostati jhe ad lin tank ID causes liquid to'ilowmay vary the detailsofconstruction as weltas' the precise arrangement ofparts without depart-` 'ing v from the spirit lofxithe invention. andtherefore. it fis; not wishedv to be limited to the above disclosureexcept as ,may v*be required by-. the

.Whatis claimediszr i f j 1. Valve controlling. `mechanism for. liquidtreating apparatus. of thetype, having `a receptacle for containing aliquid treating material which; iscapable ofv being regcner'atedrand aree generating agent,l means for-supplying liquid .to

said receptacle, piping :for :discharging liquid therefrom, anda.plurality of valves forcontrol-f ling the flow of liquid in differentportions of said piping: said rmechanism comprising means .for

interconnecting said valves to cause them to move in unison; means for'biasing Ysaid valves, one to. open 'and another vto closed position;agravityinfluenced,--liquid .container connected to said valves fand`acting in oppositionv to said biasing means; means for` supplyingliquidto said con--v tainer;. to;y cause itto' counteract said Vbiasingmeans and reverse .the positionsfofthe respective valves at thebeginning of an operationto. regen.` erate the liquid-treating materialin the 'recepe tacle. and means fordischarging liquid from the containerduring the regenerating operationwat rates proportionate to varyingliquid pressures in said mechanism comprising means forinterconnectingsaid valves to cause them tomove .in unison;A means for,rbiasing said valves, o-ne to open and another to closed position; agravity-inilu- 'enced liquid. container connectedto said valves and i3into; the; uppery lend of'V liquid treatv and `actingin opposition tosaid biasing means;

means for supplying `liquidy to said container; to cause .it toco-unteract said biasing means andA reverse the positions ,of therespective valves `at the beginningofvan operation to regeneratetheliquid-treating material inthe receptacle; and means directly actuatedby iiow of theiliquid in the discharge pipe rof the receptacle vfordiscliarg-4 treating apparatus of the type having a receptacle for-ayliquid treating material which is'capable of being regenerated, and aregenerating agent, means for supplying liquid to said receptacle, a`pipe having at least two'branches `for discharging liquid therefrom, andseparate valves for controlling the flow of liquid in each of saidbranches; said mechanism comprising means for interconnectingsaid`valves to cause them to move in unison; means for biasinglsaidvalves, one to open and the other to closed position; agravityinfluenced liquid container connected to said valves and actingin opposition tosaidbiasing means; means forisupplyingliquid to saidcon, tainer; tov cause it to counteract said biasing means and reversethe positions of .the respective Valvesat the beginning of an operationto regen.-i erate the liquid-treatir'xg material in the receptacle; andejector means actuatedv by liquid passing through thethen open valve forwithdrawing liquid from said container during said operation atl ratesproportionate to the liquid-nowA through said valve, to vary theefect'of the container upon the valves, whereby they will have beenrestored to their respective initial positions by said biasing meansatthe conclusion ofthe regenerating-operation. Y f w 4. Valve controllingmechanism `for liquid treating apparatus of the type having a receptacleforholding a liquidtreating material which is' capable of regeneration,and a regenerating'agent, means for supplying liquid tosaid'frec'eptacle, la pipe having at least two branches `for dischargingliquid therefrom, and .separate valves for controlling the flow ofliquid in each of said branches; said mechanismcomprising means forinterconnecting said valves `to cause them to movein unison; means forbiasing .said valves, one to yopen land another to closed position; .alever pivotally mounted adjacent said valves; a link connection betweenonearm cf said lever and` said interconnecting means; a' liquid con'-tainer attached to another arm of said lever for gravitationallyopposing said biasing 'means; means for supplying liquid to sai-dcontainer whereby at the beginning of a regenerating'operation itmayovercome said, biasing means and reverse the positions of therespective valves; and ejector means communicating with said containerand operable by liquid liiowing through the receptacle discharge'pipfeto withdraw liquid from the container as the regenerating operationpro-V ceeds, whereby at, its conclusion said biasing means willhaverestored the valves to their respective initial positions.

5;'In liquid treating apparatus `of the typev having a receptacle forholding a liquid treating material which is capable of regeneration, anda regenerating agent, means for supplying liquid tofsaid receptacle,fpiping for discharging liquid from the receptac1eincluding anoutlet-pipe and,

a' drain pipe,and separate valves for controlling the flow ofliquidjinsaid outlet and drain pipes respectively:` meansfor-1controlling said valves during an operation to regenerate theliquid treating material in=the receptacle, comprising meansfor,IinteroorinectingIsaidy valves tolcause them tok move in.unison;jmeans for biasing the outletpipemeans and reverse thepositionsofitherespectlve valves; and an ejector tube extendingfrom saidcontainer to within said drain pipe, whereby liquid owin'g through thelatterV willicause a withdrawal of liquid from the container as theregenerating 'operation' proceeds, thus reducing the counteraction .ofthecontainer to the biasing means and resulting ina restoration of therespective valves to their initial positions at the conclusion of theoperation.`Y f

6. In liquid treating apparatus of the type having a receptacleforholding a liquid treating material which is capable of regeneration, anda re-A generating agent, means for supplying liquid toy said receptacle,piping for discharging liquid from the receptacle',v including an outletpipe and a drain pipe,y and4 separate valves for controlling the flow ofliquid in said outlet and drain pipes respectively: 'means forcontrolling vsaid valves during an operation to regenerate `the liquidtreating material in the receptacle, comprising means forinterconnecting said Valves to cause them to move in unison;y means forbiasingthe outlet pipe valve to open position and the drain pipe valveto clos'edposition; a liquid container connected to said valves4v togravitationally oppose said biasing means; means for'supplying liquid tosaid container, whereby at the beginning of a regeneration operationitmay overcome said biasing means and'reverse the positions of therespective valves j a iiexible ejector tube extending fromsaidfcontain'er to within said drain pipe, whereby liquidv iiowingthrough'the'latter will cause a withdrawal of liquid from the containeras the regenerating operation proceeds, thus reducing thecounteractionof the container to the biasing means andresultingv in arestoration of the respective valves to their initial positions at theconclusion'of lthe operationjand means for metering the flow of liquidthroughsaid ejector tubev whereby to control the durationof theregenerating operation. Y v

7. In' liquidtreating apparatus of the base exchange silicate orsimilartype, havinga receptacle for the liquid treating material, meansforconducting', liquid to said receptacle and for dischargingitjtherefrom,a second receptacle for containing a regeneratingliquid for said mate'-Arial, and liquid-transfer connections betweensaid receptacles,valves'for said receptacle discharg ing means positioned within saidsecondrecep-- tacle for controlling the flow of liquid to be treatedthrough the iirst receptacle;` meansalso positioned insaid secondreceptacle vlfor controlling the operations `of said valves; ,and meansfor preventin'g'r'thev level of` the regenerating liquid in thesecondreceptacle from reaching said valves andcontrol meanstherein. f

rCHESTER M, IRWIN.

